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Giving tax breaks to those with children

post #1 of 8
2/8/09 at 10:01am
Thread Starter 
AS a single mom, I really needed my EICs, but I always felt uneasy because it seemed like the tax laws punished my sis and brother for not having kids.
Should we be giving extra help to those who chose to have kids? After all, isn't it a society's job to look out for the young, the disabled & the elderly among us That said, it does punish those, such as my husband and others who chose to not have kids. And will "rewarding" those who do have children, encourage them to have more
Would it be more equitable to make the EIC serve for all dependents, so that those caring for elderly parents & aunts and those who have disabled children can also get assistance - after all, it's much more expensive to hire someone to change adult diapers or deal with the issues of an adult with a child's social age (permanently). And then, where do we draw the line
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post #2 of 8
2/8/09 at 10:38am
Wow. Good question. Personally, I have no problem with tax breaks for single parents but I think it should be limited to a certain number of children, and I think there is a cap on how much you can get for children you claim.

For example, my cousin-in-law got the max he could get claiming 5 of the 7 kids his girlfriend has (only 2 are his, but he is supporting all of them). He wanted DH and I to claim the other 2 and give him half of the extra money. I DON'T THINK SO!

I know with single parents, things happen (unexpected pregnancy, divorce, abandoment, etc) and they DO need a break. But I do think some people have kids as a "tax deduction". But, how do you distinguish between the two?
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post #3 of 8
2/8/09 at 11:03am
There are many ways of looking at this.

However, while we don't have any kids, your kids are going to have to pay my social security some day, so I don't mind contributing to their well-being and education.

Some countries, such as France, have had a policy of automatic monthly payments to all children. They just figure it's their future. That's fine, as long as the parents spend the money wisely.
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post #4 of 8
2/8/09 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrblanche View Post
There are many ways of looking at this.

However, while we don't have any kids, your kids are going to have to pay my social security some day, so I don't mind contributing to their well-being and education.
Good point.

Kinda like having to pay school taxes even though I don't have any kids. I consider it an investment because everyone benefits from a well educated populace.
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post #5 of 8
2/9/09 at 6:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mschauer View Post
Good point.

Kinda like having to pay school taxes even though I don't have any kids. I consider it an investment because everyone benefits from a well educated populace.

It's expensive to perpetuate our society. Paying for the well being for our (collective) children is part of this.

And I don't have children.
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post #6 of 8
2/11/09 at 8:05pm
Indeed there are two ways of looking at this. The OP is conflicted between society's duty to take care of the less fortunate and others who need help. It's also in society's interest to ensure that children are brought up with adequate care -- good nutrition, good health care, and good education. I agree with and endorse all of that. What I don't agree with is using IRS tax code to implement social policies. The purpose of the tax code, or at least it orginally was, to produce revenue for government operations. Congress has long been tinkering with the tax code to implement their social policies, and now it's a big mess.

What I think would be the right thing to do would be to terminate the tax deductions and exemptions. That would take care of the social engineering problem. To take care of the other problem, that of social compassion, there could be increased aid to persons who are in need of it for the proper uprearing of their children.

In my opinion this would be more fair, because as it is now, people who don't need the tax breaks are getting them, and people who need more help aren't (probably because the others are getting too many tax breaks.)

Children are indeed the future of the country, but the IRS isn't the government agency that's best suited or equipped to deal with them.
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post #7 of 8
2/11/09 at 9:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by coaster View Post
Indeed there are two ways of looking at this. The OP is conflicted between society's duty to take care of the less fortunate and others who need help. It's also in society's interest to ensure that children are brought up with adequate care -- good nutrition, good health care, and good education. I agree with and endorse all of that. What I don't agree with is using IRS tax code to implement social policies. The purpose of the tax code, or at least it orginally was, to produce revenue for government operations. Congress has long been tinkering with the tax code to implement their social policies, and now it's a big mess.

What I think would be the right thing to do would be to terminate the tax deductions and exemptions. That would take care of the social engineering problem. To take care of the other problem, that of social compassion, there could be increased aid to persons who are in need of it for the proper uprearing of their children.

In my opinion this would be more fair, because as it is now, people who don't need the tax breaks are getting them, and people who need more help aren't (probably because the others are getting too many tax breaks.)

Children are indeed the future of the country, but the IRS isn't the government agency that's best suited or equipped to deal with them.
I've found the answer that feels most comfortable to me---Thank you!!!
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post #8 of 8
2/12/09 at 2:56am
On the tax exemptions you can claim all your children, but with EIC you can only have 2 qualifying children (even if you have 5 dependents). I believe the additional child tax is the same way.
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